tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100141062017-09-05T22:07:11.274-04:00Think TandemSince purchasing my first tandem in 1975, I have enjoyed talking and writing about tandems as much as riding them.Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-76426480980864147492016-10-27T12:29:00.003-04:002016-10-28T12:32:22.553-04:00How to Buy a Tandem Bicycle - the right bike shopThe final step is to find a bike shop that handles tandems well. When shopping for a first tandem, expertise is more important than price.
First, ask about selection and floor bikes, the first sign of commitment to tandems. A surprising number of shops will try to sell you a tandem from a single floor model, or from the catalog alone. Also find out if they offer a choice in tandems lines.
Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-84218300020615486232016-10-18T21:37:00.001-04:002016-10-18T21:50:33.521-04:00How to Buy a Tandem Bicycle - Find a Tandem Mentor
Part 3 in my How to Buy a Tandem Bicycle series.
If you and your (potential) tandem partner can find a tandem mentor, or a near by tandem group, they can be a tremendous resource and great encouragement. I was fortunate to come across such a couple early on and they be came longtime friends. Over the years since, I have always tried to pay it forward and share our tandem experience with Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-28547721276336692382016-10-07T12:40:00.002-04:002016-10-18T21:40:23.762-04:00How to Buy a Tandem Bicycle - The Interview(Continued from How to Buy a Tandem Bicycle - Part 1)
When I met my wife Linda, I was already an avid cyclist with a half dozen years of riding. And I already owned a tandem. While Linda was new to cycling, it soon became our common activity, and her interest grew with our relationship. We tried a few rides on my first tandem, and quickly knew we had out-grown it. We sold that first tandem, Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-7712691670413474602016-10-04T12:43:00.003-04:002016-10-27T12:34:00.009-04:00How To Buy a Tandem BicycleIn looking back, I have many memorable “first” tandem rides. The first “first” was during the summer of 1975, when I took possession of a used Gitane Interclub tandem. I began riding it around the neighborhood with any friend or family member I could persuade to ride with me. One of my brothers was the likely first stoker, and I probably took a dozen friends and family out for rides over the Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-18857200200152330422016-02-25T23:33:00.003-05:002016-10-04T21:09:04.886-04:00Winter Bonus Miles and Comfort Food
The Bacon Trainer photo bombs our start.
Linda and I just completed another spontaneous weekend overnight. After checking the weather Saturday morning, Linda made a few calls for a hotel while I hooked our Burley Nomad trailer to the tandem. We each packed a duffle bag with a change of clothing, the next day’s cycling gear, and extra layers for the variable weather. After a quick lunch, weJay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-8059965830384330182015-11-30T21:54:00.002-05:002015-11-30T22:05:45.144-05:001975: My First Tandem(I have posted the story of my first tandem on my general cycling blog - The Ride So Far)
With my brother Todd, ready to leave for Toledo, a 50 mile plus ride. 1975
From my start with my first road bike in January of 1973, things happened very fast. After just one full season, I had my eyes set on a bike upgrade, and in July of 1974 I went from steel wheels on an unknown tubing to alloy Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-57684328255064709562015-10-08T14:03:00.003-04:002015-10-08T14:03:59.415-04:00On the road again - our simple tandem touring weekend
After our very eventful and challenging summer, we finally had a free weekend over Labor Day. Once we realized we the time, we decided to make it three days of riding with two overnights. We also wanted to avoid driving to a start if we could, since we did not have time to make parking arrangements. We had thought about trying for MTR in Rockford, but the logistics and expense were too muchJay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-18115561432990235892015-10-06T13:55:00.002-04:002016-01-02T16:48:43.356-05:00My 2015 Tire Update - Tandem EditionAs I mentioned in a post after my tour last summer, the last few season have made me a big fan of the Continental GatorSkin tire. The ride is great, their endurance is epic, and the flat resistance (from penetration) is legendary. Between our tandem, and my road bikes (an Assenmacher touring bike and Trek Domane 2.3), I have been realizing over 4000 miles a pair on each bike.
I keep some Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-80047157868450693262014-03-25T17:22:00.002-04:002014-03-25T18:43:50.072-04:00Some tandem fun at work puts us on TV
Linda and I with Dick Wolfsie of WISH-TV
It is always fun when our tandem experience gets us some exposure in the media. Over the years, our riding the tandems with our sons resulted in our being featured in our hometown newspapers as we moved between Washington, Iowa and Indiana. Once, thanks to a mention by Bill McCready of Santana Cycles, the four of us were featured in an article on Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-43451529244355269932013-11-14T00:26:00.001-05:002013-11-14T00:26:45.456-05:00Tool Kits for Tandem RidersSo I am riding the Sunday of this years Hilly Hundred Weekend on my single (my Trek Domane 2.3 - love this bike, as single go) with a friend down from Michigan, when a 4 tandem entourage of HOOTS friends passes us while we are in the first food stop. I don't think much of it, but about 20 minutes and 5 miles later, I come up on the same group, all pulled over and staring at one of the bikes.
"Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-33503973836131281042013-03-28T10:41:00.000-04:002013-03-28T10:41:12.588-04:00DIY ARAI Brake Drum ToolJust a quick post - a DIY Arai Drum Brake Tool. It is basically a giant pin wrench. This only works on original, unmodified Arai Drums with the fins.
Your materials are 2 - 3" long 3/8" carriage bolt, nut and washer, and about a 4 foot long length of 2" x 4" lumber. Your tools are a 3/8" or 3/4" drill bit and electric drill, and a wrench for the carriage bolts.
On the wide side of the 2x4, Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-6773567584160324422013-03-19T19:21:00.001-04:002013-03-19T19:21:36.130-04:00Our NWTR (North West Tandem Rally) HistoryThe 2013 Northwest Tandem Rally, originally scheduled for the Fourth of July Weekend, 2013, in Bellingham, WA, has been canceled. The full details are on the NWTR website at http://nwtr.org/2013/.
The local organizing committee was apparently overwhelmed and unable to get things off the ground in time, and a group of prior rally committee members made the call. The NWTR is run much same way Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-56689112922263012252013-01-18T00:03:00.000-05:002013-01-19T11:31:37.455-05:00TOSRV 2013: Will you join me in Columbus this May?I am an avid fan of the Tour of the Scioto River Valley, held Mother's Day weekend (May 11-12, 2013 this year) out of Columbus, OH. (www.tosrv.org). It is a two day, 210 mile ride, now in it's 52nd year. I have just signed up for my 14th time (since 1979) to this event, and I am rider #208 this year.
My first TOSRV in `79
I have ridden it 9 times as a tandem captain, 4 of those with my Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-30622801379150478302011-11-29T21:44:00.001-05:002012-01-17T21:14:54.090-05:00Back to TOSRV (for the first time)
Tyler, age 12, on his first TOSRV, 2005
It was the first big ride I ever heard about. It was the early `70s and while to trying to find myself in high school, I was also trying to eat, sleep and breath bicycles. I grabbed a copy of Sports Illustrated, not for the baseball or football (not even the swimsuits), but because I found an article about the bike boom, and Eddy Merckx, and this ride Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-22366228481801463322011-01-20T19:08:00.001-05:002011-01-20T23:43:03.439-05:00Social Network for Bicycle Clubs: CIBA 2020I originally submitted this to CIBANews in 2006. I was probably a couple of years early on CINDYC, and the iPhone has replaced the iPod. However, I think everything else predicted is still a very reasonable extension of what is happening today.
CIBA 2020
It’s roughly 12:30 UST (7:30 AM for the Standard time holdouts) when you roll over, and ask your HC (Home Computer) for your start page. Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-30383548889690466912011-01-18T22:00:00.001-05:002011-01-19T14:17:24.989-05:00Social Networks for Bicycle Clubs 101: Using NING for Bicycle Club WebsitesIntro
Since 2007, I have been responsible for managing the HOOTS, (Hoosiers Out On Tandems), a central Indiana based tandem bicycle club. The HOOTS operate under the umbrella of the Central Indiana Bicycle Association, and is funded from proceeds of hosting the Midwest Tandem Rally (MTR 2004 in Columbus, Indiana and for MTR 2010 in Shipshewana, Indiana). Along with a mailing list, I am Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-8988885852272485252011-01-09T16:26:00.003-05:002011-01-09T16:55:24.818-05:00Social Networks for Bicycle Clubs 101 - Facebook Profiles, Groups, PagesHere is a quick summary of the Facebook “pages” that were discussed in yesterday’s CIBA Board Meeting.
Some of these links will only work for Facebook users, and what you see may vary with your privacy settings.
Facebook Profile: Your personal page. This is what you create when you join Facebook and where you post information about yourself. Your profile has two main components, your Profile, Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-53608101471030981792010-12-30T17:13:00.002-05:002010-12-30T21:39:39.328-05:00Kodachrome Miles (Updated)(Here is my updated tribute to Kodachrome (RIP 1935-2010), which originally appeared in Recumbent and Tandem Rider magazine in 2007)
Almost as soon as there was a bike, there was a camera. Even as a teenager, as the miles traveled increased, the desire to record and return with something was as strong as the urge to ride itself. I was going new places and seeing new sights that just had to beJay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-42650740230116605762010-12-24T16:11:00.000-05:002010-12-24T16:11:14.459-05:00Twas a night near Christmas**Twas a night near Christmas**
And all cross the net,
nary a Hobbesian was posting,
Most threads were at rest.
In jamas I was surfing,
Without worry or care,
on a Mac free of virus
or zombie malware.
I went for my email.
When what should appear,
"A post from Bill at Santana",
Talking about some new gear.
New bits formed in carbon
for under the tree?
Or finally a disc
that's maintenance free?
Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-42506846126095246842010-11-30T15:43:00.003-05:002010-11-30T15:44:48.823-05:00A not so much tandem updateNovember has come and gone, and my best laid plans for some new HOOTS work went by the wayside. Linda's father passed away in mid-November, and like so many of the tandem tweeners, we were caught between two generations of obligations.
Forest was a great husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, and to me, a friend as well. Once we got initial introductions right, (LindaJay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-7785085031277827742010-11-06T18:30:00.002-04:002010-11-16T17:16:46.448-05:00My Really, Really, Bad Tire Day (Year)This is not a post about tandems per say. Although tandems do have tires and cantilever brakes. And I would have been on a tandem if my boys had not grown out of it. (Litteraly, since they are both taller than I am.) So I was on Hilly Hundred on my touring bike, an Assenmacher (vintage 1980), while my youngest son, Justin, was riding a much newer Giant Defy 3. (We had a a great time, BTW).
Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-53387779082205576502010-10-26T01:40:00.000-04:002010-10-26T01:40:16.955-04:00My Anecdotal History of Tandem Braking(Originally Posted on Tandem@Hobbes 5/28/2010)
This is based on 35 years of tandem riding experience and observation. First, keep in mind that a rear brake can slow a bike, but a front brake is what stops one.In the the beginning, Cantilevers alone were inadequate (design, pad material and steel rims), so a third brake was added. (And there were some tire roll-out and blow-out stories on rim Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-31167596099715128442010-10-19T23:58:00.000-04:002010-10-19T23:58:51.587-04:00The Smile Machine - A follow-up.Early last spring a I submitted a story about our 1985 Santana Sovereign to Bicycle Garage Indy's (BGI) Your Bicycle, a web-to-post project I developed for BGI and hosted by Compendium Blogware. Once a post has been up for a few months, it tends to slip from your mind. So I was surprised to see a comment come in the other night from another mid-80's Sovereign owner.
From his comment, it Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-38660437528667347422010-10-06T22:19:00.001-04:002010-10-06T22:19:31.116-04:00Think Tandem Going Live on NING, againSince the Ning Network offered an extended enrollment plan, I have gone ahead and reactivated my Think Tandem network at their minimum level. It will take 24 hours for it to post and update. I have a handful of members, and that lets me keep in touch with them while I build the rest of Think Tandem. I can work on the plan to bring everything together - linked content here, comments, and Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10014106.post-11034402164560535442010-10-04T22:12:00.002-04:002010-10-04T22:12:59.471-04:00Hi AllNot much tonight. Setting testing for an RSS Feeder on www.thinktandem.info.
Thanks for your patience!Jay S. Hardcastlehttps://plus.google.com/110605311082490891782noreply@blogger.com0